New course from MCB - Why study Archaea? ARCHAEA AND BIOTECH

ARCHAEA AND BIOTECH
MCB4934 3CR
section 21FD (campus students)
section 28B3 (DE students)

Lectures are online, weekly or biweekly life discussions (time to be announced)

Why study Archaea?

Organisms are classified into one of three domains of life: Bacteria, Eukarya and Archaea. However, most students (and the public) know very little about the amazing world of Archaea and the importance these organisms have on the nutrient cycles and ecosystems of our planet. This course is designed to overcome that hurdle. Archaea are unicellular organisms with fundamental characteristics that distinguish them from Bacteria and Eukarya. Many Archaea are isolated from places on Earth once thought alien to life, including Yellowstone's highly acidic and fiercely hot thermal pools, subsurface mines of radioactive waste, and ancient salt crystals. Archaea are also found to dominate ocean waters, be important players in nutrient cycles of fragile ecosystems (such as the Everglades), and be members of the human microbiome (including our belly button!). In this course, the student will learn how Archaea thrive in extreme conditions, generate energy and improve our daily lives.

For more information contact the instructor

Julie A. Maupin-Furlow, Ph.D. Professor University of Florida Department of Microbiology and Cell Science PO Box 110700 Bldg 981, Museum Rd. Gainesville, FL 32611-0700 Tel: (352) 392-4095
Fax: (352) 392-5922 email: jmaupin@ufl.edu